Need help with Facebook Contests? Just ask Donna!

This week I interviewed Donna Hamer from Fanpage Competitions. Donna shares her inspiring story, awesome tips for WAHPs and her passion for helping small businesses use Facebook to grow their following and client-base.

Tell us a little about the person behind the business?

At the age of 33, a little bundle of joy came into my life! I tried to return to the corporate world after my son was born, but just couldn’t leave him. It was at that point, I knew that working from home was my only option to earn an income and be there to raise my son.

I have been a WAHP for 12 years and have loved every minute of it!

Two years ago I was diagnosed with breast cancer and this is what lead me to social media as a way to advertise my business and ultimately the business I am in today!

And now a little about the business itself?

Fanpage Competitions grew out of the need to educate businesses on how to use Facebook Contests as part of their social media strategy for their Facebook Pages. There was so much information on the web that was out of date and confusing.

A contest is one of the easiest ways to grow your page and grow your business if done correctly. Businesses need to ensure their contest meets Facebook’s Promotional Guidelines (plus their local/state rules) or face the risk of having their page shut down.

I spent months researching Facebook competitions/contests to see what worked, what didn’t, how businesses could use a contest and get a return on their investment. This research was used with local offline clients and turned into a product to share with others – Fanpage Competitions Contest System.

How did you come up with your business name?

I couldn’t use the name Facebook as its Trademarked… so I had to come up with an alternative, hence Fanpage. Which ultimately became Fanpage Competitions. I think the name explains the “niche.”

Why did you want to start up a WAHP business?

I couldn’t leave my son at a daycare, simple as that! It broke my heart and I didn’t want to do 12 hour days in the corporate world any more. I wanted to be there for him, go to school events, cuddle on the lounge when he was sick. Twelve years later I am still loving it. Yes, there have been many hard times as I am a single parent but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

What inspires you to keep your business going?

I don’t have a choice … this business is how I pay for my mortgage and my family; that’s a huge motivation! If I feel down or think “its just not working” I take myself off for a walk on the beach and just spend some time clearing my head.

At the end of each day, I write out anything that I need to complete the next day. This clears my mind and keeps me focused on my tasks to complete. Before going to sleep at night, I read something motivational or positive and am always thankful that I can do what I love!

Do you have a current best-selling product or service?

Yes I do … I have two courses based around Facebook Competitions. My premium product “Contest System” and my brand new “Kick Start” course. Both come with training on competitions, 12 months access to a contest app and our private support group (which is invaluable to getting help). Check it out here http://www.fanpagecompetitions.com/fast-track!

How do you advertise your business?

I don’t spend a lot on advertising due to the nature of my business. Most of my traffic comes from the viral aspect of Facebook. However, I have invested in Facebook Ads and I particularly like Promoted Posts as they don’t cost a lot and can re-engage your Page likers with your business.

How do you juggle your work with your family life?

My family always comes first and I fit my work around their needs. I tend to get up early (which I never did before I was a mum). I am the most productive first thing in the morning. After 3 hours of solid work, I then get onto breakfast and lunches. This gives me a break away from what I am doing online.

As soon as my son is off to school I then head back to the office to finish off my day’s activities.

Creating lists keeps me on track for family and work commitments. I also like to take immediate action and try not to put things off until another day (as they usually don’t get done).

And finally, what advice would you give to anyone wanting to start a WAH business?

Plan,

be realistic about your business goals,

find a mentor or an accountability partner,

don’t give up when the going gets tough, and lastly

invest money in your business.

One of the biggest struggles I see for WAH businesses is they think they can do it all themselves. For example, how long would it take you to research how to do something and become proficient at it verses spending say $75 and learning from an expert? Value your time!

Author, speaker, activist and prolific blogger Cas McCullough empowers women as mothers through her startup Mumatopia, and she empowers women solo business owners (and a few enlightened men) to drop the sales pitch and harness the power of content marketing through her Content Marketing Cardiology program. Cas is the author of Diving In: Practical tips for starting up and growing your home based business and writes a regular column on home based startups for www.startupsmart.com.au. Find Cas on Google+